Luggage bag incorporating scale

ABSTRACT

A bag, comprises a bottom support member and a pair of wheels secured to the bottom support member. A scale disposed on the bottom support member has an electrical output. A compartment is configured and dimensioned to hold the contents of the bag. The scale is disposed between the bottom support member and the compartment. The compartment is movably mounted with respect to the bottom support member. This causes items contained within the compartment tend to apply their weight to the scale. A readout is electrically coupled to the electrical output of the scale.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to apparatus and methods for determining the weight of luggage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(Not applicable)

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

(Not applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Increasingly, airlines are imposing restrictions on carry-on luggage both relating to the number of pieces and the weight which the traveler is allowed to bring on a trip without incurring extra fees. Last minute purchases, shifting weight between carry-on and checked luggage, and the like complicate the task of meeting airline restrictions. In addition, scales commonly available in homes, such as scales for measuring body weight do not easily lend themselves to weight determinations. While specialized small scales are available, the same are difficult to use due to the weight of heavier items of luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, the problem of determining the weight of luggage is solved by providing a bag which weighs itself and its contents.

More particularly, in accordance with the invention, a bag comprises a bottom support member and a pair of wheels secured to the bottom or side support member. A scale disposed on the bottom or side support member has an electrical output. A compartment is configured and dimensioned to hold the contents of the bag. The scale is disposed between the bottom support member and the compartment. The compartment is movably mounted with respect to the bottom support member. This causes items contained within the compartment tend to apply their weight to the scale. A readout is electrically coupled to the electrical output of the scale.

In accordance with the invention, the compartment may comprise a compartment bottom and a compartment back, with the compartment back secured to the compartment bottom, and the compartment bottom being made of a relatively stiff material. A side support member may be secured to the bottom support member. The compartment back is slidingly mounted with respect to the side support member.

The bag may further comprise a telescoping member secured to the side support member, and a handle secured to the telescoping member.

The compartment bottom may be made of steel or a fiber-reinforced plastic.

The compartment may comprise a fabric member, a compartment bottom and a compartment back. The compartment back may be secured to the compartment bottom. The compartment bottom may be relatively stiff. The fabric member may be secured to the compartment back and the compartment bottom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS

The operation of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a bag of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the bag according to the present invention in the vertical position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the bag according to the present invention in the tilted rolling position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention with a sliding compartment;

FIG. 7 illustrates in cross-section the relationship of the compartment and bag in an embodiment with a sliding compartment;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7 with a sliding compartment;

FIG. 9 is a view of a bag with a sliding compartment in the vertical position;

FIG. 10 is a detail showing the relationship of the compartment and support in the inventive bag in the vertical position;

FIG. 11 is a detail showing the relationship of the compartment and support in the inventive bag in the rolling position;

FIG. 12 is a detail showing the relationship of the compartment and support in the inventive bag in the rolling position;

FIG. 13 is a side view in diagrammatic form of a scale component useful in the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a top view of a scale component useful in the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention with an enlarged weight display and clock; and

FIG. 17 is an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a different scale readout location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to FIG. 1, an item of luggage 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated. Luggage 10 comprises a fabric compartment 12 having the main body portion 14 and a lid portion 16.

Of course, any suitable material for a bag may be used, such as leather, vinyl, rigid plastic, nylon, cardboard and so forth. Likewise, the luggage of the present invention may include additional materials, such as an insulating layer, shock absorbing layer, a waterproofing material such as Gortex, and so forth.

Main body portion 14 and a lid portion 16 are secured to each other by a zipper 18 which is secured to fabric compartment 12 by stitches 20. Fabric compartment 12 is secured to a rigid plastic support 22, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 2, which shows the inventive luggage bag 10 in cross-section. Support 22 comprises a bottom portion 24 and a backing portion 26. Bottom portion 24 and backing portion 26 are integrally formed with a horizontal top plate 25. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, bottom portion 24 is relatively stiff, and if desired, may be made of graphite reinforced plastic composite. Fabric compartment 12 is secured to support 22 forming a housing 27 for containing the contents of luggage bag 10.

Bag 10 further comprises a handle 28. Handle 28 may be sewn in position or secured in any conventional matter.

Bag 10 further comprises a rolling support 30 which is made of a base 32 and a back 34. Housing 27 is slidingly mounted with respect to rolling support 30. More particularly, backing portion 26 of support 22 slides with respect to back 34 of rolling support 30. Movement is limited by a pair of pins 36 which move in elongated holes or slots 38. Pins 36 may be secured to back 34 and loosely slide in slots 38, allowing housing 24 to move up and down in response to the weight of its contents.

A scale 38 is positioned within a compartment 40 in base 32 of support 30. In proportion to the weight contained within housing 27, forces applied to scale 38 cause scale 38 to generate the measurement of the weight of housing 27 and its contents. Scale 38, whose construction is described below, is programmed to add the weight of the remainder of bag 10 to provide the total weight of the luggage.

More particularly, the output of scale 38 is sent to a digital display 42, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 3. A push button 44 may be provided to switch the scale between kilograms and pounds, in a manner well known in the art.

In a manner well-known in the art, bag 10 is provided with a pair of wheels 46 and a foot 48. Bag 10 also includes a pair of telescopic members 50 attached to a handle 52. Telescopic members 50 may be extended as illustrated in FIG. 4, allowing the bag to be tilted as illustrated in FIG. 5 and easily transported.

It is intended that in accordance with the present invention that the dimensions of the bag may be changed, so that the largest area side is the bottom of the bag. In this case, the scale may be placed on the small area side of the bag and the display placed on the opposite side of the bag.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. This embodiment is substantially identical to that of FIGS. 1-5 except that bag 110 comprises a housing 127 which is displaced from base 132 overall and support 30 when the bag is being moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 11.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 10, when bag 110 is in the position of FIG. 9, housing 127 is urged by its contents toward base 132, applying pressure to scale 138. As shown most clearly in FIG. 12, when bag 110 is put in the position illustrated in FIG. 11, it slides away from base 132, thus removing pressure from scale 138, and increasing the expected lifespan of scale 138. In other words, when the inventive bag 110 is tilted from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 11, the luggage containing compartment housing 127 slides toward back 134, thus removing weight from scale 138. Conversely, when the inventive bag 110 is brought back to the position shown in FIG. 9 from the position shown in FIG. 11, the luggage containing compartment housing 127 slides toward base 132, thus applying weight to scale 138.

This action is facilitated by a pair of facing Teflon strips 180 and 182 which are secured to inclined surfaces 184 and 186 on housing 127 and base 132.

In accordance with the present invention it is contemplated that any prior art scale mechanism may be used, for example a scale of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,422 to Hoffmann dated Aug. 23, 1988.

Generally, the most common type of strain gauge consists of an insulating flexible backing which supports a metallic foil pattern. The weight of the contents of the bag of the present invention is applied to the metallic foil pattern to deform it, by applying weight to the substrate supporting the foil pattern. As the substrate is deformed, the foil is deformed, causing its electrical resistance to change. This resistance change, usually measured using a Wheatstone bridge, is related to the strain by the quantity known as the gauge factor.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a scale 38, suitable for use in either of the above embodiments, which comprises a lower portion or base 210 and a plate-like carrier 215 which rests on the central portion of the base 210, and an upper portion platform 211 which supports compartment 27. The underside of the platform 211 carries two knife edge bearings 214 which rest on spaced-apart portions of the upper side of the carrier 215.

The carrier 215 rests on two spaced-apart supports 216 which are provided therefor on the base 210 beneath the bearings 214. The distance between the supports 216 exceeds the distance between the bearings 214, and the bearings are disposed between the supports so that the carrier 215 is flexed between the supports 216 in response to the application of a load by way of the bearings 214, i.e., in response to the application of a load to the platform 211 so that the latter descends slightly and deforms the carrier 215, whereby the latter assumes a substantially concave-convex shape with the concave side facing upwardly toward the underside of the platform 212.

When a load is applied to the platform 211, the carrier 215 undergoes a deformation which is proportional to the applied load (such load is transmitted by the knife edge bearings 214), whereby the length of the conductor 222 (FIG. 14) changes to bring about a proportional change of its resistance. This is detected by the circuit including conductors 224, 225, amplifier 250, energy source 251 and a microprocessor 252 which generates a digital number sent to digital display 42.

Referring to FIG. 15, a bag 310 constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a compartment 327 forms of fabric 329 secured to frame bottom 331 and frame side 333.

Referring to FIG. 16, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown, including a larger scale display 42 which also includes the indication “lb”, indicating pounds in the illustrated example. Of course when the button 44 is depressed, the display switches to show “Kg”. Bag 410 also includes a clock 443.

Still yet another embodiment of a bag 510 constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 17. Here, the scale readout 542 extends into the compartment of the luggage and is, optionally, secured to the bag frame contained within the bag as illustrated. In this embodiment, all of the mechanics of the bag are contained within the fabric of the bag body.

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, it is noted that various modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the above description and drawings. Such modifications are within the scope of the invention which is limited and defined only by the following claims. 

1. A bag, comprising: (a) a bottom support member; (b) a pair of wheels secured to said bag; (c) a scale having an electrical output disposed on said bottom support member; (d) a compartment configured and dimensioned to hold the contents of the bag, said scale being disposed between said bottom support member and said compartment, said compartment being movably mounted with respect to said bottom support member, whereby items contained within said compartment tend to apply their weight to said scale; and (e) a readout electrically coupled to said electrical output of said scale.
 2. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said compartment comprises a compartment bottom and a compartment back, said compartment back secured to said compartment bottom, and said compartment bottom being relatively stiff, and, further comprising: (f) a side support member secured to said bottom support member, said compartment back being slidingly mounted with respect to said side support member.
 3. A bag as in claim 2, further comprising: (g) telescoping member secured to said side support member; and (h) a handle secured to telescoping member.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the compartment bottom is made of steel or a fiber-reinforced plastic.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said compartment comprises a fabric member, a compartment bottom and a compartment back, said compartment back secured to said compartment bottom, and said compartment bottom being relatively stiff, said fabric member being secured to said compartment back and said compartment bottom.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a side support member secured to said bottom support member, said compartment back being slidingly mounted with respect to said side support member wherein said compartment comprises a fabric member, a compartment bottom and a compartment back, said compartment back secured to said compartment bottom, and said compartment bottom being relatively stiff, said fabric member being secured to said compartment back and said compartment bottom.
 7. A bag as in claim 1, further comprising a side support member secured to said bottom support member, said compartment back being slidingly mounted with respect to said side support member, and wherein said compartment defines a first inclined surface, and said bottom support member defines a second inclined surface, said first and second inclined surfaces being in facing relationship to one another, said compartment being configured and dimensioned to slide on said second inclined surface, said inclined surfaces being oriented to result in sliding of said compartment toward said side support member when said bag is inclined.
 8. A bag, comprising: (a) a bottom support member; (b) a scale disposed on said bottom support member, said scale having an electrical output; (c) a compartment configured and dimensioned to hold the contents of the bag, said scale being disposed between said bottom support member and said compartment, said compartment being movably mounted with respect to said bottom support member, whereby items contained within said compartment tend to apply their weight to said scale; and (d) a readout electrically coupled to said electrical output of said scale.
 9. A bag is in claim 1, wherein said a pair of wheels is secured to said bottom support member.
 10. A bag, comprising: (a) a side support member; (b) a pair of wheels secured to said bag; (c) a scale having an electrical output disposed on said side support member; (d) a compartment configured and dimensioned to hold the contents of the bag, said scale being disposed between said side support member and said compartment, said compartment being movably mounted with respect to said side support member, whereby items contained within said compartment tend to apply their weight to said scale when said big is oriented on its side; and (e) a readout electrically coupled to said electrical output of said scale. 